Heating element assembly



Oct. 19, 1937. WOODLEY 2,096,663

HEATING ELEMENT AS SEMBLY Filed June 26, 1936 Patented Oct. 19, 1937 UNIT-ED STATESI HEATING ELEMENT ASSEMBLY Joseph Woodley, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Knapp-Monarch Company, St. Louis, Mo., a

corporation of Missouri Application .time 2s, 193s, semi No. 81,459

15 Claims.

An object of my invention is to provide a heating element assembly for sandwich toasters, waflle irons and the like, which is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and very simple, yet

y durable when connected with a plate or the like to be heated.

A further object is to provide a heating element assembly including a terminal member which is connected with the terminal ends of a heating element, and which is so supported that it is rigidly mounted relative to the entire assembly, yet a single tongue and slot connection serves the purpose of .holding `the parts in assembled position.

Still a further object is to provide a terminal member having a pair of slot and tongue connections with a supporting plate or the like for a heating element, the tongue of one connection being bent for retaining purposes and the tongue of the other connection Vserving the purpose of preventing rotation of the terminal member relative to the supporting plate after the single tongue 'has been manipulated by bending for retaining purposes.

Still a further object is to provide a heating element assembly in which a sheet metal plate serves the purpose of supporting insulatingelements for the heating element and as a support for a terminal member connected with the terminal ends thereof.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustratedin the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is 'a plan view of a heating element assembly embodying my invention, the casing associated therewith being shown in section.

.40 Figure 2 is a similar view on a reduced scale omitting the casing and showing a ilrst step in the assembly of the heatingA element assembly, -which comprises the mounting of a supporting plate on the plate to be heated by the heating element. Figure 3 is a. similar view showing the insulating elements in position.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the heating 50 element and a terminal member being placed in position.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of 55 Figure 5.

(Cl. 21S-19) Figure '7 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 1-1 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 8'8 of Figure 1; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a terminal 5 member used in my heating element assembly.

On the accompanying drawing I have used the reference numeral I II to indicate a plate or the like to be heated. By way of illustration I have shown a sheetmetal plate, this plate being the 10 upper plate of a sandwich toaster. A casing I2 may be suitably associated with the plate IIl in the usual manner for enclosing the heating element I4.

For supporting the heating element I4 and 15 spacing it from the plate I0, I provide a supporting plate I6 and insulating elements IB. The plate I6 is provided with a pair of downwardly extending flanges I8a terminating in outwardly extending flanges 20 which may be spot welded 20 or otherwise' suitably secured to the plate Ill for support relative thereto. The elements I8 have notches I9 in their outer ends to receive the heating element I4.

The plate I6 may be provided in its periphery 25 with slots '22 receiving the inner ends of insulating elements I8 in the manner shown in Letters Patent No. 2,014,001, of September 10, 1935.

I provide a terminal member A for the terminal ends of the heating element I4, which is formed 30 of sheet metal having a body portion 24, a mounting portion 26 and a pair of tongues 28 and 30.' The terminal member 24 is perforated as indi-I cated at 32 through which terminal connectors, such as rivets or the like 34, extend. These are 35 suitably insulated relative to the body portion 24 by making .the perforationsv 32 enlarged relative to the diameter of the rivets 34, as shown in Figure '7, and providing insulating washers 36 under the heads of the rivets. The upper washer 36 is 40 retained against lateral displacement by ears I8 formed on the terminal member A.

The terminal ends of the heating element I4, as indicatedy at I4a, are electrically connected with the rivets 34 by being positioned under the 45 heads thereof. Clips 40 are also positioned under the heads and are connected with lead wires 42 extending to the terminal prongs or supply c'ord for the electric appliance. 'Ihe terminal members A are provided with slots 44, while the supporting V plate I6 is provided with a tongue 46 for coaction therewith. The supporting plate I6 is also provided with a slot 48 to receive the tongue 30 of the terminal member A.

In the assembly oi my heating element assem- Y bly, the plates i and i@ connected with each other as in Figure 2 is the first step. The insulating elements i8 are then positioned as shown in Figure 3, whereupon theheating element i@ with its ends suitably connected with the terminal member A is wound around the insulating elements (it being stretched during this stepv of the operation to place it under tension), after which the terminal member A is positioned with its tongue 3U received in the slot i8 and the tongue 66 received in the slot il of the terminal member. Thereafter the tongue Q6 is twisted as shown in Figures 1, 5 and 8, which retains the portion 26 of the terminal member in contact with the supporting plate IS, and the tongue 3@ preventing rotation of the terminal member. In this position the tongue 28 as shown in Figure 5 prevents any accidental bending of the terminal member A toward theplate in, thus eliminating Athe possibility of causing a short circuit between the plate and one of the terminal connectors or rivets 3d.

It will be obvious that I have provided a very inexpensive heating element assembly, both from the standpoint of required material and required time for assembly. The supporting plate I6 is inexpensively formed in a suitable die which forms the ilanges i8 and 20 and a reinforcing associated or sprung to undesirable positions during operation of the appliance.

Some changes may be made in the construction I and arrangement of the parts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modied forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1.v In a heating element assembly, a plate to be heated, a supporting plate secured in spaced relation thereto, insulating elements supported by the peripheral edge of said supporting plate, a heating element supported rby said insulating elements and a terminal member having the ends of said heating element connected therewith, said .terminal member having a pair of slot and -tongue connections with said supporting plate,

' lation theretoinsulating elements supported by the peripheral edge of said supporting plate, a heating element supported by said insulating elements and a terminal member having the ends oi said heating element connected therewith, said terminal member having a pair of slot and tongue connections with said supporting plate, one of said connections having the tongue thereof bent for retaining purposes and the other one entering its slot to prevent rotation of said terminal member relative to said supporting plate, said terminal member having a. projection extending toward said rst plate to prevent bending of terminal member relative to said support.

4. In a heating element assembly, a plate member to be heated, a support mounted thereon and spaced relative thereto, insulating elements mounted on said support, aheating element supported on said insulating elements and a terminal member having the ends of said heating element connected therewith and means for connecting said terminal member to said lsupport, said terminal member having a projection extending toward and-engaging said plate memberto prevent bending oi said terminal member Vto a position contacting with the plate member.

5. In a heating element assembly, a plate, a heating element therefor, a support for said heating element and spaced from said plate, a terminal member connected with the terminal ends of said heating element and means for mounting said terminal member on said support, said terminal member having a projection extending towardand engaging said plate to prevent bending of said terminal member to a position contacting' therewith.

6. In a heating element assembly, a plateor the like to be heated, a heating element for heating said plate, a supporting plate connected with and spaced from said rst plate, said supporting plate having slots in the edge thereof, insulating elements received in said slots, said insulating elements supporting said heating element and a terminal member connected with the terminal ends of said heating element, said terminal member comprising a sheet metal element having perforations, terminal connectors for the terminal ends of said heating element extending through said perforations and insulated relative to said terminal member, said terminal member having a slot, a tongue formed on said supporting plate and extending through said slot, said tongue being bent for retaining said terminal member on said supporting plate and slot and tongue means for preventing rotation of said terminal member relative to said supporting plate.,-

7. A heating element assembly comprising va member to be heated, a sheet metal plate secured in spaced relation thereto, insulating elements supported by said supporting plate, a heating element supported by said insulating elements and a. terminal member for the terminal ends of said heating element, said terminal member compris'- ing a strip of sheet metal having a portion for contact with the face of said supporting plate, a projection for contact with said member to be heated when said iirst portion is in contact with said supporting plate and a slot and tongue connection between said rst portion and said supporting plate.

l8. A heating element assembly comprising a member to be heated, a sheet metal supporting plate secured in spaced relation-thereto, insulating elements lsupported by said supporting plate, a heating element supported by said insulating v elements and a terminal member for the terminal ends of said heating element, said terminal member comprising a strip of sheet metal having a portion for contact with the face. of said supportingplate, a projection for contact with said member to be vheated when said rst portion is in contact with said supporting plate, a slot and tongue connection between said first portion and said supporting plate and means of ,cooperation between said rst portion and said supporting plate to prevent rotation of said terminal member on the axis of said slot and' tongue connection.

9. In a heating element assembly, a plate to be heated, a sheet metal supporting plate secured in spaced relation thereto, slots in the edge.

thereof, insulating elements supported in said slots and having notches in the outer ends thereof, a heating element extending through said notches and thereby supported by said insulating elements' and a terminal member having the ends of said heating element-` connected therewith, said terminal member having a pair of slot and tongue connections with said supportingl plate, one of said connections having the'tongue thereof bent for retaining purposes and the other one entering said slot to prevent rotation of said terminal member relative to said supporting plate.

10. In a heating element assembly, a plate to be heated, a sheet metal supporting plate secured in spaced relation thereto, slots in the edge thereof, insulating elements supported in said slots and having notches in the outer ends thereof,

a heating element extending through said notches and thereby supported by said insulating elements and a. terminal member having the ends of said heating element connected therewith, said terminal member having a pair of slot and tongue connections with said supporting plate, one of said connections having the tongue thereof bent for retaining purposes and the otherl one entering said slot to prevent rotation of said terminal member relative to said supporting plate, said terminal member having a projection extending toward said first plate to prevent bending of said terminal member to a position contacting therewith.

11. In a heating element assembly, a member to be heated, a support mounted; thereon and spaced relative thereto, insulating elements mounted onsald support, a heating element supported on said insulating elements and a. terminal member having the ends of said heating element connected therewith, said terminal member having a slot and tongue connection with said supporting member,the tongue thereof being bent to y retain the terminal member thereof in position,

said terminal member having a projection extending toward said first member to prevent bending oi'n said terminal member to a position.

contacting with the rst member.

12. In a heating element assembly, a member to be heated, a support mounted thereon and spaced relative thereto, insulating elements mounted on said support, a heating element supported-on said insulating elements and a terminal member having the ends of said heating element connected therewith, said terminal member having-a slot and tongue connection with said supbending of said terminal member to a position contacting withthe rst member.

13.- In a heating element assembly, a heating element, a support therefor, a terminal member connected with the terminal ends of said heating element and means for mounting said terminal member relative'to'said support comprising a pair of slot and tongue connections, one of said connections having the tongue thereof bent for retaining purposes, the other one entering its slot to prevent rotation of said terminal member relative to said support and both of said slot and tongue connections preventing shifting of said terminal member relative to said support.

14. In a heating element assembly, a heating element, a support therefor, a terminal member connected with the terminal ends of said heating elementl and means for mounting said terminal member relative to said support comprising a pair of slot and tongue connections, one of said connections having the tongue thereof bent for retaining purposes and the other one entering itsslot to prevent rotation of said terminal member relative to said support, said terminal member having a projection extending toward and engagheating element connected therewith. said terminal member to a. position contacting therewith.

15. In a heating element assembly, a supporting element, a heating element supported thereby and a terminal member having the ends of said heating element connected therewith, said terminal member having a pair. of slot and tongue connections with said supporting element, one of said connections having the tongue thereof bent for retaining purposes and the' other one entering its slot to prevent rotation of said terminal member relative to said supporting plate.

JOSEPH WOODLEY. 

